Bachelor in Architectural Studies (Bachelor's)

Tuition is Tuition and fees are set annually by Smith College and are subject to change. Detailed information is available on the college's financial aid website..

This programme prepares students for careers in architectural design and urban planning through hands-on studio work and academic study. Students engage with the built environment by creating physical models, using laser cutters, and applying digital design tools. The curriculum integrates architectural history with courses on urban space, public architecture, and landscape design. Local projects and fieldwork at the MacLeish Field Station provide practical experience in real-world settings.

Focus areas include architectural design, urban space, public architecture, landscape design, built environment, architectural history.

The major requires 12 courses, including introductory and advanced design studios, art history courses focused on the built environment, and electives in architecture and studio art. A capstone exhibition and portfolio are required for graduation.

Graduates pursue roles in architectural design, urban planning, and landscape architecture in professional firms and public agencies.

Students must complete ARH 110 and at least one 100-level studio course before declaring the major. Admission to the major is based on academic performance and a portfolio review. Transfer students must meet the same course requirements.

The programme totals about 12 credit hours. on-campus, full-time, typical duration four years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 20% of applicants.

Residential life is central to Smith. The college has 40 self-governing houses rather than conventional dorms, and most students live on campus throughout their college career. House communities bring together students from all four class years and sustain traditions such as Friday afternoon tea. The campus includes Paradise Pond, formed in the 18th century by a dam on the Mill River. It serves as a campus attraction and a living laboratory for science students. Smith is in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Smith’s open curriculum gives students room to shape an education across disciplines. Current students combine fields such as computer science and psychology, sociology and landscape studies, or neuroscience and chemistry. The college supports paths into STEM, the humanities, graduate study, professional school, and service programs. Career support begins when students arrive, with nine career advisers, internship opportunities, conference funding, fellowships advising, and access to Smith Career Connect. Eighty-seven percent of graduates complete at least one internship while at Smith.

International students can draw on a worldwide alumni network of 53,000 people in more than 130 countries. Praxis grants support unpaid internships around the world, while Smith’s fellowship advising includes opportunities such as the Fulbright program. Recent student experiences have included work connected to Ghana, international taekwondo competition, and climate research in Rhode Island. The college’s location in Northampton places campus life within a Massachusetts setting while its academic and alumni networks extend well beyond the United States.